Football recruiting: Former Liberty QB Kaidon Salter transferring to CU Buffs

Although Colorado has a five-star prep recruit joining the quarterback room, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said on Tuesday that the Buffaloes were looking to add a veteran to the mix.

On Wednesday, that veteran was added. Former Liberty star Kaidon Salter has decided to commit to the Buffaloes and play his final season of college football in Boulder.

Salter will join a QB room that currently includes incoming freshman Julian “JuJu” Lewis, and returning redshirt sophomore Ryan Staub. The Buffs are looking to replace Big 12 offensive player of the year Shedeur Sanders, who is graduating.

“I think we need to do our very best to get the best players in here at that position and we want to be a little bit greedy about it,” Shurmur said Tuesday. “Obviously JuJu’s future is unbelievable, and I’m certainly looking forward to working with him. He’s got a bright future, and we’ll see how quickly that happens. But at some point here I think we need to add another quarterback.

“We have a target, maybe a guy with one year left, and recruiting is going very well. So I think you might see that happen.”

That target was Salter, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound rising senior with dual threat ability. A full-time starter for the past two seasons at Liberty, Salter was Conference USA Most Valuable Player in 2023.

Salter has led Liberty to a 21-4 record over the past two seasons, including 8-3 this year.

In 2023, Salter completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,876 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions, while rushing for 1,089 yards and 12 scores. This season, he saw his numbers dip, as he completed 56.3% of his passes for 1,886 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions, while rushing for 587 yards and seven TDs.

Salter began his collegiate career at Tennessee in the spring of 2021, but he transferred to Liberty that summer. In his four seasons with the Flames, he completed 58.7% of his passes for 5,887 yards, 56 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He has rushed for 2,013 yards and 21 touchdowns.

“Every year now, you’re kind of reconstructing your roster and it happens at all positions, and especially the most key position in my mind, of quarterback,” Shurmur said. “We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure we’ve got the best players and the best room possible to represent Colorado football.”

Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.